Tuesday, June 17, 2008

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (June 17,2008) - The European Union decided in Brussels yesterday to reduce EUFOR's size but to keep an appropriate robust military presence as part of its overall engagement in Bosnia, contributing to the maintenance of the safe and secure environment.

The European Union Force in Bosnia (EUFOR) will reconfigure progressively, but will also maintain the capacity to reverse the effects of the force reduction and to re-establish a more robust military presence if needed.

Under the transition plan, EUFOR will retain approximately 2,500 troops in Bosnia, able to respond should the security situation require it. A multinational manoeuvre battalion and Integrated Police Unit will be based in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo and, in addition, EUFOR will retain its presence throughout the country through the liaison and observation teams (LOTs).

Robust reserve forces will also be available over the horizon nd EUFOR will continue to fulfill its peace-enforcement mandate.

The EU troops will continue to provide support to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), including the detention of persons indicted for war crimes, while noting that the responsibility for full cooperation with ICTY rests with the Bosnian authorities. .